Thin, flexible protective firearm cover

ABSTRACT

A thin, flexible protective firearm cover is disclosed. The firearm cover can comprise a narrow barrel portion to receive and enclose a muzzle end of a firearm, a butt portion to receive and enclose a butt end of the firearm, and an intermediate portion between the barrel portion and the butt portion. The intermediate portion can have a size-adjustable opening that flexibly expands to allow the firearm to pass through. Reducing the size of the opening draws the butt portion and the barrel portion toward one another to secure the firearm cover about the firearm when the firearm is disposed in the cover. The firearm cover is thin and flexible to provide for compact storage of the firearm cover when the cover is not in use.

PRIORITY DATA

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/405,905, filed Aug. 18, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/936,397, filed Jul. 22, 2020, which iscontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/508,234, filed Jul.10, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/919,200, filed Mar. 12, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/499,778, filed Apr. 27, 2017, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/040,131, filed Mar.3, 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/038,363, filed Mar. 1, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/309,347, filed on Mar. 1, 2010, eachof which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to protective cases and/orcoverings for firearms. Accordingly, the present invention involves themechanical arts field.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gun cases that are used for storing guns, particularly those forshotguns and rifles, are traditionally made of bulky, heavy, semi-rigidmaterial. The main purpose of such a gun case is to protect the gunagainst damage from an impact received during storage. However, suchtraditional gun cases can be cumbersome, particularly when a user takesthe case out into the field. The weight and bulk of such cases canhinder a gun user's mobility both when the gun is inside the case andwhen the case is not needed and the gun is in use. Thus, whiletechniques currently exist to protect a gun, the present inventors haverecognized a need for a gun cover that provides adequate protectionwhile maximizing portability and reducing the burden of a gun cover inthe field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a thin, flexible protectivefirearm cover. The present invention also provides a firearm protectionsystem, associated with the cover. In one aspect, for example, a thin,flexible protective firearm cover is provided. Such a firearm cover caninclude a narrow barrel portion to receive and enclose a muzzle end of afirearm. The firearm can also include a butt portion to receive andenclose a butt end of the firearm. Additionally, the firearm cover caninclude an intermediate portion between the barrel portion and the buttportion, the intermediate portion having a size-adjustable opening thatflexibly expands to allow passage of the firearm therethrough, whereinreducing the size of the opening draws the butt portion and the barrelportion toward one another to secure the firearm cover about the firearmwhen the firearm is disposed therein, the firearm cover being thin andflexible to provide for compact storage of the firearm cover when not inuse.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a firearm protectionsystem. The firearm protection system can comprise a thin, flexiblecover. The cover can include a narrow barrel portion to receive andenclose a muzzle end of a firearm. The cover can also include a buttportion to receive and enclose a butt end of the firearm. In addition,the cover can include an intermediate portion between the barrel portionand the butt portion, the intermediate portion having a size-adjustableopening that flexibly expands to allow passage of the firearmtherethrough, wherein reducing the size of the opening draws the buttportion and the barrel portion toward one another to secure the firearmcover about the firearm when the firearm is disposed therein, thefirearm cover being thin and flexible to provide for compact storage ofthe firearm cover when not in use. Additionally, the firearm protectionsystem can include a storage bag associated with the cover, the storagebag configured to receive the firearm cover in a compacted form forstorage.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, various features of theinvention so that the detailed description thereof that follows may bebetter understood, and so that the present contribution to the art maybe better appreciated. Other features of the present invention willbecome clearer from the following detailed description of the invention,taken with the accompanying claims, or may be learned by the practice ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a firearm cover illustrating a firearm disposedin the firearm cover, in accordance with an example of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2A is an illustration of a firearm being disposed in the firearmcover of FIG. 1 , in accordance with an example of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2B is a further illustration of a firearm being disposed in thefirearm cover of FIG. 1 , in accordance with an example of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2C is yet a further illustration of a firearm being disposed in thefirearm cover of FIG. 1 , in accordance with an example of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the firearm cover of FIG. 1 disposed in acompacted storage configuration in a storage bag, in accordance with anexample of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a firearm cover, in accordance with anexample of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the firearm cover of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a top view of the firearm cover of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D is a bottom view of the firearm cover of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4E is an end view of the firearm cover of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4F is an end view of the firearm cover of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4G illustrates a firearm being inserted into or removed from thefirearm cover of FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

In describing and claiming the present invention, the followingterminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set forthbelow.

The terms gun and/or firearm shall refer to any type or style of gun,including, but not limited to, a rifle, a shotgun, a handgun, amuzzle-loaded projectile-firing weapon, and a breech-loadedprojectile-firing weapon. Moreover, the terms gun and firearm shallfurther include any object that may be customarily attached to a rifle,a shotgun, a handgun, a muzzle and/or a breech-loaded projectile-firingweapon, including, but not limited to, an optical scope, ammunition, anammunition clip, a carrying strap, a silencer and/or a holster.

The singular forms “a,” “an,” and, “the” include plural referents unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to“a drain” includes reference to one or more of such drains.

As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to anumerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “alittle above” or “a little below” the endpoint.

As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete ornearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property,state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is“substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completelyenclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree ofdeviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on thespecific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completionwill be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and totalcompletion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equallyapplicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the completeor near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state,structure, item, or result. For example, a composition that is“substantially free of” particles would either completely lackparticles, or so nearly completely lack particles that the effect wouldbe the same as if it completely lacked particles. In other words, acomposition that is “substantially free of” an ingredient or element maystill actually contain such item as long as there is no measurableeffect thereof.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositionalelements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list forconvenience. However, these lists should be construed as though eachmember of the list is individually identified as a separate and uniquemember. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as ade facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based ontheir presentation in a common group without indications to thecontrary.

Numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format.It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely forconvenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly toinclude not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limitsof the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values orsub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value andsub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical rangeof “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only theexplicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also includeindividual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus,included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as wellas 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, individually. This same principle applies toranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum.Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of thebreadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

The Invention

The present application relates to protective cases and/or coverings forfirearms. In particular, embodiments of the present application includedevices, systems, and methods for providing and using a thin, flexible,and compactable protective case or covering for a firearm. Protection offirearms is conveniently and effectively provided, for example, from theelements of rain and snow, and from excessive dust, moisture, and debriswhen traveling off-road on an ATV or other vehicle. The thin, flexible,and compactable nature of the firearm cover allows it to be convenientlycarried and deployed when needed with a minimum of added weight or bulk.

Implementation in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosureprovides protection for the gun while it is being carried in the field.For example, when a hunter leaves his/her house or automobile, thehunter can carry his/her gun a great distance. Quite often, the weatherthat the hunter encounters during a hunting trip is inclement, or, whilethe hunter is far from his/her house or automobile, the weather turnsinclement. Embodiments of the present disclosure allow for the hunter'sgun to be conveniently and effectively protected from (rather than beingexposed to) the elements of rain, snow, and dust. Similarly, whentraveling off-road on an ATV or other vehicle, embodiments of thepresent disclosure allow for the hunter's gun to be conveniently andeffectively protected from (rather than being exposed to) excessivedust, moisture and debris.

While the firearm cover of the present disclosure has proven to beparticularly useful in the area of firearm protection, those skilled inthe art can appreciate that the described devices, systems, and methodscan be used in a variety of different applications and in a variety ofdifferent areas of manufacture.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a representative embodiment of a thin,flexible protective firearm cover 10 is shown. Cover 10 generallycomprises an elongated casing made of light, flexible material andcapable of being folded or rolled into a small, compact packet orconfiguration for compact storage of the cover when not in use. Thecover 10 can include a narrow barrel portion 20 at one end to receiveand enclose a muzzle end 3 of a firearm 2. At another end, the cover 10can include a butt portion 30 to receive and enclose a butt end 4 of thefirearm 2. The narrow barrel portion can be narrower than the buttportion. Between the barrel portion 20 and the butt portion 30, thecover 10 can include an intermediate portion 40. The intermediateportion 40 can include a size-adjustable opening 42 that flexiblyexpands to allow the firearm 2 to pass therethrough. Reducing the sizeof the opening 42 can in some embodiments, draw the butt portion 30 andthe barrel portion 20 toward one another to secure the firearm cover 10about the firearm 2 when the firearm is disposed in the cover 10.

Cover 10 may be fabricated from any number of thin, flexible materials,for example from a textile such as a woven nylon. In one aspect, thecover utilizes a wind and/or water-repellent material. For example,materials such as Gore-Tex® fabric, or vinyl or sturdy canvas treatedwith a water repellant finish can be used. Other polymeric and fabricmaterials may be used as well. In certain aspects, the cover material isimpermeable and/or repellant to dust, dirt, water, etc. The material canalso include solids and/or various types of patterns, prints and colorsto accommodate a use of the cover. For example, in one embodiment, acamouflage print material is used. In another embodiment, a bright,hazard or warning color fabric is used, such as safety or hunter orange.Although the cover material is thin, lightweight, and flexible, thematerial can also be sufficiently thick and/or have sufficient strengthto protect the firearm against brush, branches or other potentialobjects that can scratch or abrade the firearm.

In some embodiments, cover 10 comprises a wedge shape such that a buttend or portion 30 comprises a wider profile that tapers toward a barrelend or portion 20 having a narrower profile. In other embodiments,barrel portion 20 is closed or otherwise sealed such that moisture anddebris are prevented from entering an interior of the cover 10 throughthe barrel portion 20. In some other embodiments, cover 10 isconstructed of a single piece of fabric, thereby minimizing the numberof fabric panels and respective joining seams. Where joining seams areutilized, a seam tape or sealant compound can be applied to the seam tofurther prevent entrance of unwanted elements.

The closed nature of barrel portion 20 can provide a pocket for a barrelend of a firearm having dimensions to compatibly receive andsubstantially cover or otherwise store the barrel and, in certainembodiments, a front portion of a stock of the firearm. In one aspect,the barrel portion 20 can comprise up to about 50% of a length 12 of thefirearm cover 10.

In some embodiments, the barrel portion 20 comprises a generic taperedshape to accommodate a variety of stock and/or barrel shapes, lengths,and diameters. In other embodiments, the barrel portion 20 comprises afitted shape that approximates the size, shape, and length of aparticular stock and/or barrel shape. In one aspect, the barrel portion20 of the firearm cover is shaped to resemble the barrel of the firearm2 and sized to fit closely to the barrel while allowing unencumberedinsertion and removal of the barrel from the barrel portion 20. In aspecific aspect, the intermediate portion 40 is sized and shaped toaccommodate an optical scope 7 of the firearm 2. Such an accommodationfor the scope 7 can result in an abrupt shape transition, such as abulge, from the narrow barrel portion 20 to the intermediate portion 40.

When configured to accommodate a scope 7, the cover 10 can includefeatures to allow the scope to be used while the firearm 2 is disposedin the cover. For example, the cover can include a scope opening (notshown) substantially matching the scope so that the scope can be usedwithout removing the firearm from cover. Such a scope opening can besubstantially the same length as the scope to expose the entire scope atonce. In one aspect, the cover can include two scope openings, one foreach optical end of the scope. In this way, only the ends of the scopeneed be exposed in order to use the scope, thus minimizing exposure ofthe rest of the scope and firearm. Optionally, the scope opening can beclosed and secured with straps, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, azipper, etc. In another aspect, the scope opening can be covered by aflap, which may or may not be secured in the same manner. In stillanother aspect, a cleaning cloth for the scope lenses can be attached tothe cover in the vicinity of the opening of the scope, to allowconvenient cleaning of the scope lenses while the firearm is disposed inthe cover.

As mentioned above, the cover 10 includes a partially enclosedintermediate portion 40 having an opening 42 for insertion/removal offirearm 2. In some embodiments, opening 42 comprises an elongateaperture having dimensions to accommodate insertion of the firearm'sstock, including butt end 4. Thus, insertion of firearm 2 into cover 10is generally accomplished by initially inserting a muzzle end 3 of thebarrel into the barrel portion 20 via opening 42 in the intermediateportion 40 (as shown in FIG. 2A). Once inserted into the barrel portion20, the firearm 2 is moved in direction 70 relative to the cover 10 toinsert the firearm 2 into the cover 10 sufficient to allow the buttportion 30 to fit over the butt end 4 (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B). Thebutt portion 30 can be moved in direction 72 relative to the firearm 2to enlarge the opening 42 sufficient to fit over the butt end 4 of thefirearm 2 (as shown in FIG. 2B). Once the opening is expanded past thebutt end 4, the butt portion 30 of the cover 10 can be moved indirection 74 to enclose the butt end of the firearm (as shown in FIG.2C). The size of the opening 42 can be reduced to move the butt portion30 in direction 76 (as shown in FIG. 2C). In this way, the butt portion30 and the barrel portion 20 can be drawn toward one another to securethe firearm cover 10 about the firearm 2 when the firearm is disposed inthe cover 10.

The opening 42 can be any size sufficient to allow the firearm 2 to bedisposed in the cover 10. As mentioned above, the opening 42 can beflexible to allow expansion and contraction to allow insertion andsecure covering of the cover 10 about the firearm 2. In one aspect, theopening 42 in a fully expanded configuration can comprise up to about90% of the length 12 of the firearm cover 10. In another aspect, theopening 42 in a fully expanded configuration can comprise up to about75% of the length 12 of the firearm cover 10. In yet another aspect, theopening 42 in a fully expanded configuration can comprise up to about50% of the length 12 of the firearm cover 10. In one aspect, the opening42 in a fully contracted configuration can comprise at least about 5% ofa length of the firearm cover 10.

In another aspect, the opening 42 in a fully contracted configurationcan comprise at least about 25% of a length of the firearm cover 10. Instill another aspect, the opening 42 in a fully contracted configurationcan comprise at least about 50% of a length of the firearm cover 10.

In yet another aspect, the opening 42 in a contracted configuration issufficient to allow a carrying strap 5 of the firearm 2 to be accessiblethrough the opening 42 for carrying the firearm while disposed in thecover 10. In other words, when the firearm is disposed in the cover 10,a sufficient space remains in the opening to allow use of the carryingstrap 5 through the opening. In this way, the firearm can be carried inthe usual manner with the strap 5 even when the firearm is disposed inthe cover.

In a particular aspect, at least a portion of the opening 42 is adjacentto a trigger 6 of the firearm 2 when the firearm is disposed in thefirearm cover 10. This can locate the opening 42 relative to a portionof the firearm that may be advantageously accessed while the firearm isdisposed in the cover, such as to determine whether the firearm's safetyis engaged or to access an ammunition clip.

The opening 42 can include certain features to allow expansion andcontraction of the opening 42. In one aspect, the opening 42 can includea channel (not shown) for housing a drawstring 44 such as a cinchingcord or gathering cord. In some embodiments, the drawstring 44 comprisesan elastic cord, such as a shock cord. In other embodiments, thedrawstring 44 comprises a static cord, such as a string or rope. Suchdrawstrings can create a larger or smaller opening with a cinchingmechanism to secure the drawstring. The channel can be configured tosubstantially rim the opening 42 such that the opening 42 issubstantially defined by the channel. When the opening 42 is at itslargest size or greatest circumference, the drawstring 44 can be relaxedwithin the channel. The opening 42 can be closed by removing a portionof the drawstring 44 from the channel to cinch up the drawstring,thereby reducing the size of the opening 42.

In some embodiments, the opening 42 comprises an elastic band entirelyenclosed within the channel, such that the user is unable to access theelastic band, but rather manipulates the opening 42 by stretching andreleasing the elastic band within the channel.

In another aspect, an elastic material can be attached or sewn into theopening 42 as opposed to being disposed in the channel. In certainaspects, the opening can include other closure mechanisms, such as azipper, hook and loop fasteners, hooks, buttons, snaps, toggle and loop,magnets, etc. Such closure mechanisms can be used alone or in anycombination to open or close and/or to expand or contract the opening42. In a specific aspect, such closure mechanisms can be used assecondary closure mechanisms to supplement a primary closure mechanism,such as a drawstring. For example, a drawstring can be used to create anopening 42 of a given size and the secondary closure mechanisms, such asa toggle and loop or magnets can be used to further close the opening 42to provide additional coverage over the firearm at the opening 42. Thesecondary closure mechanisms can be quick and easy to engage ordisengage and can enhance usability of the cover 10 by reducing use ofthe primary closure mechanism to size the opening 42 once a preferredopening size has been achieved, while providing the benefit ofadditional coverage at the opening.

When the opening 42 is reduced in size or contracted, the material ofthe cover 10 can be gathered around firearm 2. In the process ofcontracting, the material of cover 10 can become somewhat taut aroundthe rigid form of firearm 2. Accordingly, the previously loose shape ofthe cover 10, particularly the intermediate portion 40 and the butportion 30, can take on a general structured shape relative to the shapeof the firearm disposed within the cover 10. In this manner, cover 10 iscapable of taking on the general shape of any gun or firearm placedtherein. Additionally, cover 10 is capable of taking on the generalshape of any gun accessory or device attached to firearm 2, such as ascope 7.

The tautness of cover 10, following contraction of opening 42, isbeneficial in preventing pooling of water or collection of snow and dirton the cover 10 during transportation or storage of the firearm. Uponcontact with cover 10, water, snow and dirt may simply roll or slide offof the cover material thereby maintaining the integrity and cleanlinessof the cover 10. The tautness of cover 10 further reduces the exposureof excess cover fabric or material that may become snagged by branches,thorns or other natural features commonly encountered in the field.Cover 10 can thus assist the user in preserving an undisclosed presencein the field.

In some embodiments, opening 42 of cover 10 is prevented from completeclosure. As such, following contraction, the opening 42 may still be ofa substantial size. This substantial opening may be desirable for theuse of cover 10 with firearms having a shoulder strap 5, as discussedabove. Substantial opening 42 may then be used to provide externalaccess for shoulder strap 5. Thus, firearm 2 may be enclosed securelywithin cover 10 while shoulder strap 5 remains positioned external tocover 10 and readily available for use.

Thus, in certain aspects, when a substantial opening is to bemaintained, the cover 10 can include a thin, flexible flap 60 disposedadjacent to the opening 42, and in some aspects, attached inside thecover adjacent to the opening. The flap 60 can be sufficient tosubstantially cover the opening 42 over the firearm 2 to minimizeexposure of the firearm through the opening while allowing accessthrough the opening for the shoulder strap 5, for example. In oneaspect, the flap can substantially cover or close the opening bywrapping around the firearm 2 from one side to the other.

With a substantial opening 42, particularly without benefit of a flap60, it may be possible for moisture to enter the cover 10 via theopening 42. Thus, in certain aspects, the cover 10 can include one ormore drains 32 to allow water to exit the cover without accumulating toany significant degree. In a particular aspect, the drain can be locatedat the butt portion 30, since this is likely to be positioned at leastas low as any other portion of the cover 10 during use.

In some embodiments an interior surface of cover 10 can further comprisea non-abrasive coating or liner (not shown) to further protect firearm2, such as from abrasive interaction and/or damage. In some embodiments,a non-abrasive liner comprises a woven, natural fiber-based material. Inother embodiments, a liner comprises a woven, synthetic-fiber material,such as fleece. Still further, in some embodiments a liner comprises anon-abrasive flocking material. One having skill in the art willappreciate that a liner may include any material selected to protectfirearm 2 from abrasive interaction with cover 10.

In a further aspect of the present disclosure, the cover 10 can beincluded in a firearm protection system. As shown in FIG. 1 , thefirearm protection system can also include a storage bag 50. As shown inFIG. 3 , the cover 10 can be compacted, such as by folding, rolling,and/or stuffing, and deposited in the storage bag 50 through an opening56 of the storage bag 50. Once placed within storage bag 50, adrawstring or gathering cord 54 disposed about the opening 56 of thestorage bag 50 can be cinched thereby reducing the circumference of theopening 56, and retaining cover 10 therein. Optionally, the opening 56can be closed and secured with straps, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, azipper, etc. In another aspect, the opening 56 can be covered by a flap(not shown), which may or may not be secured in the same manner. Thestorage bag flap can be configured to cover the opening 56 from outsidethe storage bag. On the other hand, the storage bag flap can beconfigured to cover the opening 56 from inside the storage bag, such asby being disposed between the compacted firearm cover and the opening56. Thus, storage bag 50 and stored cover 10 can provide a relativelysmall package that is easily stored in a coat pocket or rucksack orattached to a belt or backpack.

Additionally, the storage bag 50 can also include a feature, such as acarabiner 58, for attaching the storage bag 50 to a desired attachmentpoint, such as a belt loop or backpack. An attachment feature caninclude clips, rings, straps, bands, hooks, loops, a carabiner, or anyother suitable attachment feature for a storage bag 50. In one aspect, acleaning cloth (not shown) for the scope lenses can be attached to thestorage bag 50, such as to an inside lip of the opening 56.

In certain aspects, the storage bag 50 can be provided as a separatecomponent that is not attached to the cover 10. In certain otheraspects, the storage bag 50 can be associated with the cover 10. Forexample, the storage bag 50 can be removably attachable to the cover 10,such as by a snap, strap, loop, carabiner, tabs, hook and loop fastener,clip, etc. In another example, the storage bag 50 can be permanentlyattached to the cover 10. As discussed herein, with regard to anattachment of the storage bag 50 to the cover 10, it is to be understoodthat such an attachment can be either removable or permanent and is onlyto be limited to one or the other when the context dictates such alimitation.

In one aspect, the storage bag 50 can be attached to the barrel portion20 of the cover 10. In a specific aspect, the storage bag 50 can beattached to the muzzle end 22 of the barrel portion 20. In one example,illustrated in FIG. 1 , the storage bag 50 is connected at the muzzleend 22 and is in a non-inverted configuration when the cover 10 isdeployed out of the storage bag 50 for use. The storage bag 50 maintainsthe non-inverted configuration when the firearm 2 is disposed in thecover 10 and the muzzle end 3 of the firearm 2 extends into the storagebag 50. A non-inverted configuration of the storage bag 50 is aconfiguration oriented to properly receive the cover for compactstorage. Also illustrated in the figure, is that the muzzle end 22 isattached to a bottom end 52 and inside of the storage bag 50. This canhelp maintain the storage bag 50 in a non-inverted configuration whenthe firearm 2 is disposed in the cover 10.

In some aspects, the cover 10 can be attached to the storage bag 50 atother locations inside the storage bag 50. For example, the cover 10 canbe attached to a side seam or an inside lip of the opening 56 of thestorage bag 50. Such attachment locations inside the storage bag 50 canallow the storage bag 50 to remain in a non-inverted configuration evenwhen the attachment location on the cover 10 is larger than the opening56 of the storage bag 50. For example, in this case, if a relativelywide portion of the cover 10, such as the butt end 30, is attached atthe bottom of the storage bag 50, which has a relatively small opening56, the storage bag may have to invert when the cover 10 is deployed foruse. This is unlike an attachment of the bottom of the storage bag 50 tothe cover 10 at a relatively small location, such as the muzzle end 22of the cover 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1 . However, if the butt end ofthe cover 10 is attached along the inside lip of the opening 56 of thestorage bag 10, then the storage bag may not need to invert when thecover is deployed for use.

In certain aspects, the storage bag 50 can be connected to the cover 10at other locations of the cover and can be either inverted ornon-inverted when the cover 10 is out of the storage bag 50 for use. Forexample, the storage bag 50 can be attached to the cover at any locationon the butt portion 30, the intermediate portion 40, or the barrelportion 20. In certain other aspects, the storage bag 50 can be attachedto an inside portion of the cover 10, such as at the butt portion 30,the intermediate portion 40, or the barrel portion 20. For example, aninside of the butt portion 30 of the cover 10 can be attached to aninside lip of the opening 56 of the storage bag 50. When the cover 10 isdeployed for use, the storage bag 50 can be located inside the cover 10at the butt portion 30 and in a non-inverted configuration. In anotherexample, an inside of the butt portion 30 of the cover 10 can beattached to the bottom 52 inside the storage bag 50. When the cover 10is deployed for use, the storage bag 50 can be located inside the cover10 at the butt portion 30 and in an inverted configuration.

FIGS. 4A-4G illustrate various design aspects of the firearm cover ofthe present disclosure.

Of course, it is to be understood that the above-described arrangementsare only illustrative of the application of the principles of thepresent invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangementsmay be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims areintended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while thepresent invention has been described above with particularity and detailin connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical andpreferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, butnot limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function andmanner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing fromthe principles and concepts set forth herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible protective firearm cover, comprising:an elongated barrel portion operable to receive and enclose a barrel ofthe firearm, the barrel portion having a muzzle end portion at an end ofthe barrel portion; a butt portion operable to receive and enclose abutt end of the firearm; an intermediate portion between the barrelportion and the butt portion of the firearm cover, the intermediateportion having a size adjustable opening and having a diameter that islarger than a diameter of the barrel portion; and a storage bag attachedto the muzzle end portion with an opening operable to surround andenclose the muzzle end portion such that the muzzle end of the firearmextends into the storage bag, wherein the firearm cover is attached toan interior portion of the storage bag at a point opposite the openingand the firearm cover can be retracted into the storage bag.
 2. Thefirearm cover of claim 1, wherein the storage bag has an interior volumeoperable to receive the entire firearm cover in a compacted form forstorage.
 3. The firearm cover of claim 1, wherein the muzzle end of thebarrel portion has a size configured to substantially match an interiorsize of the storage bag.
 4. The firearm cover of claim 3, wherein amuzzle end of the barrel portion is disposed in the storage bag andattached to a bottom end of the storage bag, such that when the firearmcover is deployed for use the storage bag is in a configuration toreceive the firearm cover for compact storage.
 5. The firearm cover ofclaim 2, wherein the storage bag includes a drawstring about the openingof the bag.
 6. The firearm cover of claim 1, further comprising a thin,flexible flap disposed adjacent to the size adjustable opening, saidflap having a size and shape sufficient to substantially close the sizeadjustable opening over the firearm.
 7. The firearm cover of claim 1,wherein the barrel portion comprises up to about 50% of a length of thefirearm cover.
 8. The firearm cover of claim 1, wherein the sizeadjustable opening in a fully expanded configuration comprises up toabout 90% of a length of the firearm cover.
 9. The firearm cover ofclaim 1, wherein the size adjustable opening in a fully contractedconfiguration comprises at least about 5% of a length of the firearmcover.
 10. The firearm cover of claim 1, wherein the size adjustableopening in a contracted configuration is sufficient to allow a carryingstrap of the firearm to be accessible through the size-adjustableopening for carrying the firearm while disposed in the firearm cover.11. The firearm cover of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sizeadjustable opening is adjacent to a trigger of the firearm when thefirearm is disposed in the firearm cover.
 12. The firearm cover of claim1, further comprising a drawstring about the size adjustable opening.13. The firearm cover of claim 12, wherein the drawstring is elastic.14. The firearm cover of claim 1, further comprising an elastic aboutthe size adjustable opening.
 15. The firearm cover of claim 1, whereinthe barrel portion is shaped to resemble the barrel of the firearm andsized to fit closely to the barrel while allowing unencumbered insertionand removal of the barrel from the barrel portion and the intermediateportion is sized and shaped to accommodate an optical scope of thefirearm.
 16. The firearm cover of claim 1, wherein the firearm cover isconstructed substantially of woven nylon.
 17. A firearm protectionsystem, comprising: a thin, flexible firearm cover having: a barrelportion operable to receive and enclose a barrel of the firearm, thebarrel portion having a muzzle end portion at an end of the barrelportion; a butt portion operable to receive and enclose a butt end ofthe firearm; and an intermediate portion between the narrow barrelportion and the butt portion of the firearm cover, the intermediateportion having a size adjustable opening and having a diameter that islarger than a diameter of the barrel portion; and an invertible storagebag operable for attachment to the muzzle end portion of the firearmcover along an interior portion of the storage bag, the invertiblestorage bag having an opening that surrounds and encloses the muzzle endportion such that the muzzle end of the firearm extending into theinvertible storage bag, wherein the invertible storage bag is operableto receive the firearm cover in a compacted form for storage.
 18. Thefirearm protection system of claim 17, wherein the storage bag isremovably attached to the firearm cover.
 19. The firearm protectionsystem of claim 17, further comprising a thin, flexible flap disposedadjacent to the size adjustable opening, said flap being sufficient tosubstantially cover the size adjustable opening over the firearm. 20.The firearm protection system of claim 17, further comprising at leastone drain hole at the butt portion of the firearm cover.